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Felony charges reduced, homeless organizers released after public outrage over racialized charges
Two African-American organizers with Occupy Homes MN, who were arrested while making repairs to a vacant bank-owned home for a family to live in, were released from jail Tuesday evening following two days of community protest. They were held for 30 hours on probable cause of felony possession of burglary or theft tools. The felony charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, but still carry a possible sentence of up to 3 years in prison and a $5,000 fine.
“This is another example of public resources being used against the public to defend the banks,” said Antoine Martinneau, one of the arrestees who was released Tuesday night. “But we won’t let them divide us. I’m looking forward to working with the city and the county on real solutions that truly make housing a human right.”
60 community members rallied in City Hall today to demand their release and that all charges be dropped. “Fixing up a vacant house is not a crime,” said Neighborhoods Organizing for Change organizer Michael McDowell, who moved back into his grandmother’s foreclosed home, which had been sitting vacant, this summer. “If these had been white heterosexual men, no one would even consider felony burglary charges.”
Council Members Alondra Cano and Andrew Johnson greeted the protest. CM Cano announced that she had spoken with Rep. Keith Ellison, who agreed to work to get the charges dropped. The felony charges, which are handled by the county, were dropped to misdemeanors, a city-level offense under City Attorney Susan Segal's discretion.
More at: http://www.occupyhomesmn.org/letthemgo
“This is another example of public resources being used against the public to defend the banks,” said Antoine Martinneau, one of the arrestees who was released Tuesday night. “But we won’t let them divide us. I’m looking forward to working with the city and the county on real solutions that truly make housing a human right.”
60 community members rallied in City Hall today to demand their release and that all charges be dropped. “Fixing up a vacant house is not a crime,” said Neighborhoods Organizing for Change organizer Michael McDowell, who moved back into his grandmother’s foreclosed home, which had been sitting vacant, this summer. “If these had been white heterosexual men, no one would even consider felony burglary charges.”
Council Members Alondra Cano and Andrew Johnson greeted the protest. CM Cano announced that she had spoken with Rep. Keith Ellison, who agreed to work to get the charges dropped. The felony charges, which are handled by the county, were dropped to misdemeanors, a city-level offense under City Attorney Susan Segal's discretion.
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NO POLICE RESOURCES TO EVICT HOMEOWNERS